NANTWICH opened the new season with a nailbiting draw against Chester Boughton Hall at Whitehouse Lane.

Chester won the toss on a dry pitch but were soon left wondering whether their decision to bat first was the right one as pace ace Barrington Browne kept openers Ed Roberts and Warren Goodwin on their toes.

Both batsmen proved up to the task and gradually built a valuable stand of 90 before Browne dismissed Goodwin for 40.

The fast bowler then dismissed Chester's numbers three and four for ducks to reduce them to 94-3, and when Roberts was caught by new overseas player Leigh Murphy off Chris Hampshire for 51, the Dabbers looked ready to take control.

Ogilby and Griffiths steadied the ship for Chester, notching 16 and 25 respectively, before skipper Alex Kegg declared on 151-6.

The Nantwich reply was undermined early on by excellent new-ball bowling from Kegg and Atkin.

Both went for just two an over and snared an opener each. Aussie Adam Bull then removed the dangerous Jeff Maynard and, at 33-3, Hall were in command.

Murphy made an excellent 42 to lead the recovery and Lee Prince added 22 before debutant Rob Fisher picked up both wickets.

But when Browne was run out for seven with one over to go, Nantwich decided discretion was the better part of valour and Matt Anderson and Ian Cowap saw out the final six balls to earn a draw. Nantwich Seconds made a fine start to their Premier Division Second XI League campaign following promotion last season.

They defeated Chester by 37 runs to take 24 points from their opening fixture.